The coin was very similar in appearance to its gold markpredecessor. During its first year of circulation, it was composed of cupronickel. Later, however, the coin was made of zinc-clad iron. It weighed 2.5 grams and had a diameter of 17.5 millimeters. The smooth edge was 1 millimeter thick. The coin's obverse featured little design, only designating that the coin is from the Deutsches Reich, its value, and year of minting. The reverse, however, featured a more complicated design, the Reichsadler.[1][2]